A pressure switch helps monitor the water or gas pressure in your home or business. It guides your pump on when to release and when to stop releasing water or gas. The pressure of the water or gas at the point your pump turns on or off is called the set point. For instance, most residential pressure switches have a set point of 30 to 50 PSI (pounds per square inch).

What this means is that when the water or gas in your system drops to 30 PSI, the switch is activated and allows more water or gas in. In this example, the switch deactivates at 50 PSI.

As it’s a critical system, it’s important to have a maintenance plan for your pressure switch. This could save you time and money in the long term because:

• There’s less risk of injury.
• Operations won't be halted due to a failure on the pressure switch.
• There are fewer losses due to damages in expensive equipment.
• There are more preventative measures in place to allow the switch to last longer.

Today, we’ll provide you with maintenance tips for your pressure switch. We’re also going to explore different types of pressure switches and their preferred applications.

Tip 1 - Service Your Pressure Switch Regularly

Whether or not you’re experiencing problems with your pressure switch, regular servicing is a must.

Regular servicing not only ensures that your pressure switch functions properly but also allows for a quick intervention to prevent health hazards and explosions.

Pro Tip: Understanding how a pressure switch works is useful for troubleshooting problems with your pressure switch. 

This is because, although all pressure switches aren’t interchangeable, they are all composed of a sensing element and a snap action switch.

For example, in a home setting, a well pressure switch controls when to turn on and off your well pump, which supplies water to your home. 

It accomplishes this by monitoring the pressure and increasing the flow of water when the pressure drops to the required PSI. When the maximum PSI is achieved, it switches off.

In a furnace, the pressure switch ensures there’s pressure for the furnace to function. It also shuts down the furnace if it senses negative pressure to prevent the furnace from cycling in case there’s a mechanical failure.

All pressure switches have an internal spring mechanism that's directly wired to electrical contacts. The spring may degrade and stop working as the pressure switch ages, at which point a replacement is required.

Regular servicing by an experienced professional will ensure the pressure switch is inspected for any impending breakdown or normal wear and tear.

Prior to analyzing your pressure switch, the professional will look out for common issues that affect pressure switches such as:

• Electrical failures
• Clogged drainage
• Leaks
• Restricted air intake

The maintenance technician will then give feedback on the best way forward.

During this time, recommendations may be made for the replacement of some parts to ensure that your pressure switch continues working smoothly.

Tip 2 - Proper Cleaning by a Professional

A pressure switch requires regular and proper cleaning for it to function optimally and maintain stable pressure.

Residential, commercial, and industrial pressure switches need to be cleaned by professionals who are trained to handle this kind of machinery.

Working with any form of electrical equipment can be risky, but industrial facilities pose a higher risk due to the more complex equipment and higher electricity and power requirements.

Safety always comes first. So, get a specialist to complete the work, and turn off the pressure switch before beginning any type of maintenance.

Trying to clean the pressure switch yourself may be hazardous and you may even end up destroying parts that were working perfectly.

A professional, on the other hand, will know where to clean, and how to get the pressure switch functioning again.

Industrial facilities must ensure they select the type of pressure switches and cleaning schedule that are most appropriate for their facility. This will ensure smooth operations and prevent any future electric issues.

Tip 3 - Watch Out for Signs of Faulty Pressure Switch

As a decision maker in charge of your equipment and its pressure switch, you must know what kind of faults are expected and how to troubleshoot them. This is because it's the only way to solve issues before they turn into hazards or breakdowns.

The following are examples of common issues with pressure switches and how you can prevent them:

• No on or off function action by the switch. If the system isn’t producing the proper pressure, the pressure switch won't turn on and off. 
  Therefore, ensure the system and your pressure gauges are functioning properly to rule out a pressure switch problem.
• Switches repeatedly turn on and off. A leak is one of the most common causes of cycling (repeatedly turning on and off). Have the switch contacts inspected to see whether they've been harmed by the cycling.
• Pressure sensor obstruction. This is caused by water minerals and silt that clog up the pressure sensor. Try having the pressure switch and the tube that connects it to the water supply cleaned.
  Too much debris may cause complete damage to the pressure switch and it will be  more cost-effective to replace it beforehand.
• Diaphragm damage. To provide a pressure reading, water from your supply exerts pressure against the switch's diaphragm. If the diaphragm is old, it may be unable to detect the pressure and a pressure switch replacement is necessary.

Expert Tip: Many homeowners are unaware that the pressure tank switch needs periodic maintenance in order to keep functioning properly within the well pump system.

Because of this, the switch could wear down earlier than it should. You can test the pressure tank switch to see if the switch is the issue or if there is another obstruction stopping water from reaching your home's plumbing.

Types of Pressure Switches and How They Work

A pressure switch is activated by the pressure of a liquid or gas at the set points.

There are two main types of pressure switches:

• Mechanical: Simple and commonly used for less complex tasks in residential settings. They can be used to increase or decrease pressure through a contact change
• Electronic: Far more accurate than mechanical pressure switches and offer long-term stability. They are used to control the pressure of water or gas in industrial settings

A pressure switch can be used in a range of domestic and commercial applications. For example:

• Well pump pressure switches: Used in both residential and commercial buildings to bring water from the well and ensure a stable water pressure
• Gas cylinders and air pumps: To monitor and control the system's air pressure
• Furnaces: Act as safety devices that turn the furnace off when they sense low or higher pressure than is required

The table below shows the key components of a pressure switch.

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